Mechanically driven musical instrument



March 3, 1953 E. FRAYSUR 2,630,040

MECHANICALLY DRIVEN MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed D80. 15, 1950 2 SHEETS--SHEET 1.

FIG-1 INVENTOR. Khan/e0 :,4 saw/e BY March 3, 1953 Filed Dec. 15, 1950 IIH Hlbm IN VEN TOR.

[OW/1E0 fTe/r rs u/e BY Patented Mar. 3, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MECHANI CALLY DRIVEN MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Edward Fraysur, Winchester, Application December- 15, 1950, Serial No. 201,029

7 Claims. 1

This invention relatesto a mechanically driven automatic musical instrument.

An object of this invention is to provide a 1nechanically driven automatic musical instrument which can be simply an'd easily manually manipulated to play a'predetermined tune. I

Another object of this invention is to provide a mechanically driven automatic musical instrument which can be manipulated by a child of average intelligence'and isconstructed in a manner wherein the possibility of injury to the child is minimized. I t I t A further object of this'invention is to provide a mechanically driven automatic musical instrument which can be'pretuned and includes a novel drive whereby the instrument can be played in locales having no available electric power, such as rural areas and resorts.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a mechanically driven automatic musical instrument which is relatively simple in structure and cheap to manufacture.

The above and 'still'further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration ot the following detailed description of the invention taken in con junction with the accompanying drawings,

wherein: w M y, w r. t

Figure l a'top plan view' with parts broken away and shown in section, of th e n echanically driven musical instrument of the present invention shown in anon-playing"position; V

Figure 2 isan'enlarged' fragmentary sectional view taken alongthe line 2 2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3'is an enlarged fra mentary sectional view taken along the'line 3-'3 of Figure 1; i I

Figure 4 is a top plan View with pelts broke away and shown in section orthe mechanically driven automatic musical instrument of the present invention shown in the playing position;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 5'- 5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line'6 5"of Figure 4; t

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken along the line l--l of Figure 4; V H i t Figure 8 is an elevational' view with parts broken away; of a modified form of the tune selecting roller forming'apart of the musical instrument of the present invention; and,

Figure 9 is a sectional'view' line 9Q of Figure 8. I n H Referring now more particularly to the draw ings, wherein like reference numerals have been used throughout the several views'to designate like parts, there is shown the mechanically driven automatic musical instrumentof the presentinvention generally designated by the reference numeral In which includes 'a sllpport l l illustrated in the form of a toy piano."

taken along the Disposed within the piano body is a horizontally disposed shaft I2 which is mounted for rotary movement by means of the spaced brackets i3, Hi. The shaft 12 includes a circular section l5 journaled between the brackets 43 and I4 and a section it which is triangular in cross-section and projects beyond the bracket M and has its freeend terminating contiguous to and spaced inwardly of the slot ll provided in the bounding wall i of the cabinet or support H.

W Operatively connected to the shaft i2 is a manually actuable drive structure is for eiiecting therotary movement of the shaft. The drive structure it includes an actuating lever is whic is ,pivotallysupported intermediate its ends on an upstanding pin 2i: for movement into and out of a triggering position illustrated in Figure 1. Circumposed about the shaft I2 intermediate the upstanding bracketslii, H5 is a driven gear 2| which is secured to the circular section it of the shaft. Carried by the actuating lever id is a driving ratchet 22 which is supported in engagement with the driven gear 2! andis movable longitudinally of the latter in response to the ivotal movement or" the actuating lever out of the triggering position in a counterclockwise direction about the pivot pin 23. As clearly shown in Figure 3, the driving ratchet 22 has its undersurface provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced transversely extending gear teeth 23, the ratchet beingfurther provided with a longitudinally extending slot; 24. Secured to the support ll on opposite sides of the shaft I? are theinverte'd ueshaped guide brackets 26, 2i which have their bights embracingly' received and supported withinthe longitudinalslot 2 of the driving ratchet 22 to thereby guide the ratchet for a movement longitudinally of the driven gear 2!. Secured to ,the shaft I2 is a ratchet 28 which is engaged bya'spring biased pawl 23 carried by the driven gear 2 l, the pawl and ratchet cooperating to prevent the clockwise movement of the shaft [2 as viewed in Figure 3. Operatively connected to the actuator lever is is a spring 36 which urges the actuating lever iifilout of the triggering position illustrated in Figure. l in a counterclockwise directionto the position illustrated in Figure l. Carried by the support contiguous to the slot ,i "l is a clip iii which is, selectively engageable with the actuating lever i B for holding the latter inthe triggeringposition illustrated in Figure 1. As clea rlyshown in Figure l, the lever I?) has one end projecting exteriorlyof the cabinet and provided with'a knob, 32 perrnitting the lever to be selectively engaged and disengaged from the clip 3|, Operatively connected to the shaft 52 isia fgovernor' structure generally designated by the reference nurneraltii for controlling the rate of. rotation of the'shaftlz under the influence of 'the drive structure is. As clearly illustrated Figures 1 and 4, the governor is of the air resistance type and includes a pair spaced brackets 34, carrying a horizontally disposed rotatably supported stub shaft 38. Secured to one end of the stub shaft 38 is a plurality of radially extending blades .3? which provide the desired retarding effect. The governor 33 is coupled to the drive shaft l2 by means of a pair of meshing gears 38, 39, the gear 33 being secured to the stub shaft 36 and the gear 39 being secured to the circular section l5 of the shaft l2.

Disposed longitudinally of the triangular section It of the shaft 12 is a tune selecting roller 40 which is removably supported on the shaft I2 contiguous to the free end thereof. The tune selecting roller 40 includes an elongated cylindrical body 4| which is provided with a bore 42 which extends inwardly from one end thereof and terminates at a point contiguous to and spaced from the other end thereof, the bore 42 being triangular in cross section and complementary to the shaft section Hi. Projecting exteriorly of the end of the body 4| remote from the open end of the bore 42 is a knob 43 which permits the roller 40 to be manually grasped and moved to the supported position illustrated in Figure 4 abutting against the stop 44 carried by the shaft l2. The elongated cylindrical body 4| is provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced transversely extending annular grooves 45.

Secured at spaced intervals along each of the grooves 45 are picks 46 for a purpose to be subsequently described.

overlyin the support H is a movable base 41 which is mounted on the support for swinging movement about an axis spaced from the shaft 12 into and out of the supported position on the support. The movable base 41 includes a base plate 48 having a hinged section 49 which is movable from the position illustrated in Figure 5 confronting and abutting the support ll to the position illustrated in Figure 2 at an angle with respect to the support ll. Secured to the hinge section 49 of the base plate 48 is a pair of upstanding brackets 50, 5| which support a hinge pin 52, the hinge pin rotatably supporting a plurality of sleeves 53 rotatably mounted in end to end aligned relation with respect to each other. Disposed in side by side spaced relation with respect to each other transversely of the base 47 is a plurality of roller engaging arms 54. Each of the arms is separately mounted on the base 4'? for pivotal movement about the pivot pin, the pivotal support for each of the arms 54 comprising the adjacent one of the sleeves 53. Each of the arms 54 has the end thereof contiguous to the tune selecting roller 40 intermittently engageable with the adjacent picks 46 for selectively pivoting the other end of the arms toward the support I l in response to the rotary movement of the shaft l2. As clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2, the arms 54 are in the non-playing position with respect to the tune selecting roller 40 when the hinge section 49 of the base 41 is in the inclined position. Upon effecting the movement of the hinge section 49 to the normal position supported on the base, illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, the ends 55 of the roller engaging arms 54 are brought into operative relation with respect to the aligned one of the grooves 45 carrying the picks 46.

Arranged in operative relation with respect to the ends 56 of the arms 54 are suitable sounding elements 51 for producing a note in response to to the movement of the end 56 of the arms 54 toward the support ll. As illustrated, the ends 56 of the arms 54 carry striker elements 58 which engage with the sounding elements 51, the elements being illustrated as sounding rods of various lengths. It is to be noted however that the instrument of the present invention contemplates the use of any of a multiplicity of sounding elements such as bells, Whistles, taut wires, and the like.

Carried by the upstanding bracket 5| of the base 41 is an abutment plate 60 which is movable into the positiin bridging the free end of the triangular section ll; of the shaft l2 and confronting the knob 43 of the tune selecting roller 40 for preventing the removal of the tune selecting roller 40 from the shaft while the instrument is in operation.

Carried by the support ll intermediate the actuating lever l9 and the base 41 is a bell crank lever iii which is pivotally supported intermediate its arms 62, 63 by means of an upstanding pivot pin 64. The bell crank lever B! has its arm engageable with the adjacent end of the actuating lever I9 upon movement of the actuating lever out of the triggering position illustrated in Figure 1 in a clockwise direction. The subsequent counterclockwise movement of the bell crank 6| about the pivot pin 64 urges the arm 62 of the bell crank lever 61 into engagement with the pivoted section 49 of the base 41 to urge the section 49 from the position illustrated in Figure 5 to the position illustrated in Figure 2. As clearly shown in Figure 2, the abutment plate 60 is brought out of the bridging position with respect to the shaft and the position confronting the knob 43 of the roller 40 to permit the roller to be removed from the shaft.

In actual use, the desired tune selecting roller 40 is placed onto the triangular section [B of the shaft 42 by pivoting the actuating lever I 9 out of the triggered position illustrated in Figure 1 in a clockwise direction until the bell crank lever urges the arms 54 and the abutment plate 60 into the non-playing position of Figure 1. After the roller has been placed on the shaft, the lever l9 can be engaged with the clip 3| until such time as the instrument is to be used. Upon releasing the lever 19 frim the clip 3|, the drive structure (8 will effect the desired counterclockwise rotary movement of the shaft 12 and select ones of the picks 46 will engage with the adjacent ends of the arms 54 to intermittently urge the arms from the full line position of Figure 5 to the broken line position illustrated therein wherein subsequent movement of the roller will permit the arms to drop onto the sounding elements 51.

In Figures 8 and 9 there is shown a modified form of the tune selecting roller of the present invention. The roller Ill includes a transversely extending longitudinally spaced groove ll. the groove supporting the picks 12, the picks each terminating at a point spaced from the outer periphery of the body 73 of the roller 10. The picks T2 are arranged in two groups 14, 15, arranged in side by side relation with respect to eachv other. the picks 12 ofthe group 14 being offset with respect to the picks 12 of the group 15.

It is readily apparent that numerous other modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in th appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A musical instrument comprising a support. a. horizontally disposed shaft positioned above said support and rotatably mounted on the latter, manually actuable drive means operatively connected to said shaft for rotating the latter, a tune selecting roller disposed longitudinally of said shaft and contiguous to one end thereof and removably supported thereon, an elongated movable base overlying said support and mounted on, the latter for swinging movement about an axis spaced from said shaft into and out of a supported position on said support, a pair of upstanding brackets carried by the base, a horizontal pin extending between the brackets above the base, a plurality of sleeves mounted on the pin for rotation independently of one another, a plurality of arms disposed in side-by-side spaced relation with respect to each other upon said base and each connected intermediate its ends to a separate sleeve for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis, a plurality of radial picks on the roller, each of said arms having one end in the path of selected picks of the tune-selecting roller in said supported position of the base for pivoting of the arms on said pin to effect the movement of the other ends of the arms through an arcuate path in response to the rotary movement of said shaft, and a plurality of sounding elements mounted on the support in the path of movement of the second-named ends of the arms, said elements being struck by the second-named ends of the arms to sound notes, responsive to pivotal movement of the arms upon the pin.

2. A musical instrument comprising a support, a horizontally disposed shaft positioned above said support and rotatably mounted on the lat ter, manually actuable drive mean operatively connected to said shaft for rotating the latter,

a, tune selecting roller disposed longitudinally of c said shaft and contiguous to one end thereof and removably supported thereon, an elongated movable base overlying said support and mounted on the latter for swinging movement about an axis spaced from said shaft into and out of a supported position on said support, a pair of upstanding brackets carried by the base, a horizontal pin extending between the brackets above the base, a plurality of sleeves mounted on the pin for rotation independently of one another, a plurality of arms disposed in side-by-side spaced relation with respect to each other upon said base and each connected intermediate its ends to a separate sleeve for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis, a plurality of radial picks on the roller, each of said arms having one end in the path of selected picks of the tune-selecting roller in said supported position of the base for pivoting of the arms on said pin to effect the movement of the other ends of the arms through an arcuate path in response to the rotary movement of said shaft, and a plurality of sounding elements mounted on the support in the path of movement of the second-named ends of the arms, said elements being struck by the second-named ends of the arms to sound notes, responsive to pivotal movement of the arms upon the pin, said manually actuable drive means comprising an actuating lever pivotally mounted on the support for movement inte and out of a triggering position, a driven gear circumposed about said shaft and secured thereto, a drive ratchet carried by said actuating lever and arranged transversely of the shaft in mesh with said driven gear to rotate the latter in response to the pivotal movement of said actuating lever out of said triggering position in one direction, and springmeans operatively connected to'said actuating lever for urging the latter out of said triggering position in said one direction.

sesame 3. A musical instrument comprising a support, a horizontally disposed shaft positioned above said support and rotatably mounted on the latter, manually actuable drive means operatively connected to said shaft for rotating the latter, a tune selecting roller disposed longitudinally of said shaft and contiguous to one end thereof and removably supported thereon, an elongated movable base overlying said support and mounted on the latter for swinging movement about an axis spaced from said shaft into and out or" a supported position on said support, a pair of upstanding brackets carried by the base, a horizontal pin extending between the brackets above the base, a plurality of sleeves mounted on the pin for rotation independently of one another, a plurality of arms disposed in side-by-side spaced relation with respect to each other upon said base and each connected intermediat its ends to a separate sleeve for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis, a plurality of radial picks on the roller, each of said arms having one end in the path of selected picks of the tune-selecting roller in said supported position of the base for pivoting of the arms on said pin to effect the move ment of the other ends of th arms through an arcuate path in response to the rotary movement of said shaft, and aplurality of sounding elements mounted on the support in the path of movement of the second-named ends of the arms, said elements being struck by the second-named ends of the arms to sound notes, responsive to pivotal movement of the arms upon the pin, said manually actuable drive means comprising an actuating lever pivotally mounted on the support for movement into and out of a triggering position, a driven gear circumposed about said shaft and secured thereto, a drive ratchet carried by said actuating lever and arranged transversely of the shaft in mesh with said driven gear to rotate the latter in response to the pivotal movement of said actuating lever out of said triggering position in onedirection, spring means operatively connected to said actuating lever for urging the latter out of said triggering position in said one direction, and a clip carried by said support and engaging said actuating lever for releasably holding the latter in said triggering position.

4. A musical instrument comprising a support, a horizontally disposed shaft positioned above said support and rotatably mounted on the latter, manually actuable drive means 'operatively con nected to said shaft for rotating the latter, a tune selecting roller disposed longitudinally of said shaft and contiguous to one end thereof and removably supported thereon, an elongated movable base overlying said support and mounted on the latter for swinging movement about an axis spaced from said shaft into and out of a supported position on said support, a pair of upstanding brackets carried by the base, a horizontal extending between the brackets above the base, a plurality of sleeves mounted on the pin for rotation independently of one another, a plurality of arms disposed in side-by-side spaced relation with respect to each other upon said base and each connected intermediate its ends to a separate sleeve for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis, a plurality of radial picks on the roller, each of said arms having one end in the path of selected picks of the tune-selecting roller in said supported position of the base for pivotin of the arms on said pinto effect the movement of the other ends of the arms through an arcuate path in response to the rotary movement of said shaft, and a plurality of sounding elements mounted on the support in the path of movement of the secondman'ied ends of the arms, said element, being struck by the second-named ends of the arms to sound notes, responsive to pivotal movement of the arms upon the pin, said manually actuable drive means comprising an actuating lever pivotally mounted on the support for movement into and out of a triggering position, a driven gear circumposed about said shaft and secured thereto, a drive ratchet carried by said actuating lever and arranged transversely of the shaft in mesh with said driven gear to rotate the latter in response to the pivotal movement of said actuating lever out of said triggering position in one direction, spring means operatively connected to said actuating lever for urging the latter out of said triggering position in said one direction, and a bell crank lever p-ivotally connected intermediate its to said support and extending between said actuating lever and said base for urging the latter out of said supported position in response to the movement of said actuating lever out of triggering position in the opposite dircction.

A musical instrument comprising a support, a horizontally disposed shaft positioned about said support and rotatably mounted on the latter, manually actuable drive means operatively connected to said shaft for rotating the latter, a tune selecting roller disposed longitudinally of said shaft and contiguous to one end thereof and removably supported thereon, an elongated movable base overlying said sup it and mounted on the latter for swinging movement about an axis spaced from said shaft into and out of a supported position on said support, a pair of upstanding brackets carried by the base, a horizontal pin extending between the brackets above the base, a plurality of sleeves mounted on the pin for rotation independently of one another, a plurality of disposed in side-by-side spaced relation with respect to each other upon said base and each connected intermediate its ends to a separate sleeve for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis, a plurality of radial picks on the roller, each of said arms having one end in the path of selected picks of the tune -selecting roller in said pported position of the base for pivoting of the arms on said pin to effect the movement of the other ends of the arms through an arouate path in response to the rotary movement of said shaft, and a plurality of sounding elements mounted on the support in the path of movement of the second-named ends of the arms, said elements being struck by the second-named ends of the arms to sound notes, responsive to pivotal movement of the arms upon the pin, said manually actuable drive means comprising an actuating lever pivotally mounted on the support for movement into and out of a triggering position, a driven gear circumposed about said shaft and secured thereto, a drive ratchet carried by said actuating lever and arranged transversely of the shaft in mesh with said driven gear to rotate the latter in response to the pivotal movement of said actuating lever out of said triggering position in one direction, spring means operatively connected to said actuating lever for urging the latter out of said triggering position in said one direction, a bell crank lever pivotally connected intermediate its ends to said support and extending between said aotuating lever and said base for urging the latter out of said supported position in response to the movement of said actuating lever out of said triggering position in the opposite direction, and an abutment plate secured at one end to said base and having its other end extending transversely of the shaft for movement into a position bridging said one end of said shaft and engaging one end of the roller in response to the movement of said base into said supported position, for preventing the removal of said tune selecting roller from said shaft.

6. A musical instrument comprising a support, a horizontally disposed shaft positioned above said support and rotatably mounted on the latter, manually actuable drive means operatively connected to said shaft for rotating the latter, a tune selecting roller disposed longitudinally of said shaft and contiguous to one end thereof and removabiy supported thereon, an elongated movable base overlying said support and mounted on the latter for swinging movement about an axis spaced from said shaft into and out of a supported position on said support, a pair of upstanding brackets carried by the base, a horizontal pin extending between the brackets above the base, a plurality of sleeves mounted on the pin for rotation independently of one another, a plurality of arms disposed in side-by-side spaced relation with respect to each other upon said and each connected intermediate its ends to a separate sleeve for pivotal movement about horizontal a plurality of radial picks on the roller, each of said arms having one end in the of selected picks of the tune-selecting roller in said supported position of the base for pivoting of the arms on said pin to effect the movement of the other ends of the arms through an arcuate path in response to the rotary movement of said shaft, and a plurality of sounding elements mounted on the support in the path of movement of the second-named ends of the arms, said elements being struck by the secondnamed ends of the arms to sound notes, responsive to pivotal movement of the arms upon the pin, and governor means operatively connected to said shaft for controlling the rate of rotation of said shaft.

'7. In a musical instrument including a shaft, a manually aotuable drive means operatively connected to said shaft for rotating the latter, said manually actuable drive means comprising an actuating lever pivotally mounted on the support for movement into and out of a triggering position, a driven gear ciroumposed about said shaft and secured thereto, a driving ratchet carried by said actuating lever and arranged transversely of the shaft in mesh with said driven gear to rotate the latter in response to the pivotal movement of said actuating lever out of said triggering position in one direction, and spring means 0peratively connected to said actuating lever for urging the latter in said one direction out of said triggering position.

EDWARD FRAYSUR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Steele a- July 28, 1925 

